One of the sub-actions of the “Supporting Community Led-Local Development” plan is the development of small-scale tourism infrastructure, such as the marking of footpaths, local attractions and points of tourist interest, in an area which aims to improve the quality of life of residents and also to better serve visitors.
As part of the fruition of a proposal similar to the above sub-action, the DAFNI interdisciplinary team carried out field research in Patmos to highlight the existing route network on the island. The selection and marking of these trails was completed in the past with the collaboration of the Hellenic Society for the Environment and Culture under the “Paths of Culture” programme.
Georgia Kanellopoulou, Sustainable Tourism Consultant, in a meeting that was held at the island’s Town Hall, made a presentation to the Deputy Mayors of Technical Services and Finance and to the Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development and Promotion of the obligations arising our of Decision Ref. No. 1513144/165/30-01-201 by the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy concerning the “Definition of technical specifications for the design, marking, opening and maintenance of mountaineering/trekking/hiking trails” (GG 206/Β/30-01-2017).
On the basis of what was discussed at the meeting, it was decided to prepare a proposal for submission to the Local Development Initiative of Local Communities (TAPTOK) with a commission estimate for the maintenance or replacement of damaged signage and its updating with the specifications set out. Furthermore, simple maintenance work on the paved paths was commissioned for their enhancement and the provision of a service for the development of the network’s communication identity and the enrichment of the relevant information material on the Municipality’s website.
The results of the field survey and the proposals were presented on the last day of our visit to Grigoris Stoikos, Mayor of Patmos, at the Municipality’s Tourist Information Office. Finally, we would like to thank Iakovos Koutlakis, President of Patmos Hoteliers, who helped us familiarize ourselves with the island’s heritage and history.
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